Prelude to a Dream is the companion solo piano songbook to Shoshana Michel’s 2017 album by the same name. All eleven original pieces from the album are included. The book is spiral-bound, has enlarged reproductions of the beautiful album cover artwork by Matt Strieby of Newleaf Design on the front and back covers, and is printed on a medium-weight paper stock that should hold up well to many years of playing enjoyment. The pieces were transcribed by Shoshana Michel and proof-read by Pam Asberry, a piano teacher and composer herself. The notation is clear, well-spaced, and easy to read. Most of the pieces are in fairly easy key signatures, but there are a few that are a bit more challenging (see below). Most are at an upper-intermediate to early-advanced playing level and there are no reaches of more than an octave. Most are at a moderate playing tempo and all are melodic and very enjoyable to play. The book also includes an introductory page with notes about the music, suggestions for playing, and thank you’s, as well as an “About Shoshana” page that tells more about the composer/pianist/artist. This is an exceptionally nice songbook and it is currently available exclusively from www.ShoshanaMusic.com. Recommended!

For comments about the specific pieces, please see my review of the recording here on MainlyPiano.com.

The song titles, the keys they are in, and the number of pages are:

Wonders - Key of A (3 sharps) - 7 pages
Prelude to a Dream - Key of C minor (3 flats) - 6 1/2 pages
A Walk in the Rain - Key of A - 7 pages
Butterfly Kisses - Key of E minor (1 sharp) - 6 pages
Tender Words - Key of A - 4 1/2 pages
Kaleidoscope - Key of E minor - 6 pages
Applewood - Key of G (1 sharp) - 5 pages
Meditation - Key of Eb minor (6 flats) - 6 pages
A Most Precious Gift - Key of E (4 sharps) - 4 pages
Silent Farewell - Key of C# minor (4 sharps) - 12 pages
Ethereal - Key of F# (6 sharps) - 5 1/2 pages